It can be argued that to feel total freedom in life, one must embark to the seas upon a boat – a pleasure yacht. Thereby allowing oneself the privilege of escaping from the daily strains and stresses of a “normal” life. However, even this may be in some ways restricted by today’s marine safety laws. There are various legal requirements in order to prove your yachting ability and also to prove your vessel’s seaworthiness. It is after all, the moral responsibility of the yacht owner and skipper to ensure all crew and any passengers are not exposed to any unavoidable risks or dangers.

So what does this really mean? It means that yacht skippers should be fully competent in dealing with any type of weather conditions and/or situations that they may encounter. Furthermore, the crew should also be thoroughly competent in assisting the skipper in the running of the yacht and the safety of his or her fellow crew members.

Thus, if you yourself are a skipper of a boat, you should always be thinking “is your sail crew performing?”. If they are not then this could lead to being exposed to danger, not only of course for yourself but for all members of the crew. Any infringements upon local by-laws can indeed attract a hefty fine but what is even worse is that breaches in safe operating procedures can lead to serious accidents, or perhaps even death. Therefore, responsible yacht handling at the very least requires some fore-thought and some pre-planning, as all yacht skippers and sail crew worth their salt would, or should know. And for boating and yachting beginners? Forget about flying the waters! Accuracy is key here, not speed. Speed will come naturally upon development of skills with experience. So, for every boat skipper, even before embarking to the seas, and each time, you must ask yourself this one question above perhaps all others – “is your sail crew performing?”.

The yachts utilized for these fishing trips will come fully equipped with all and sundry marine electronics, air-conditioned cabins, rods, tackle, bait and even fishing permits where required. Furthermore, you will be accompanied with at least one member of staff which is most helpful if you are relatively new to the art of fishing. They will help guide you to the best fishing areas in the locality, particularly if you offer them a beer.

The companies that provide these fishing trips also provide a number of other activities which may include the following:

• One-on-one fishing tuition
• Fly casting lessons
• Coastal photography tours
• Coastal eco and conservation tours

If you are keen on a charter then often you will require either a fresh or salt-water fishing license, information about which can be obtained from the local state government’s website. The charter company can help you locate suitable accommodation for your stay.

If you are relatively closely located to or are heading towards Florida and the Bahamas, these are highly popular destinations for salt-water light tackle fishing. This fishing experience will offer the potential of catching blackfin tuna, sailfish, tarpoon, kingfish, swordfish, dolphin and wahoo, just to name a few. And as Florida and the Bahamas are inundated with charter fishing companies there is something here for every keen fisher person.

Yacht fishing rental fees vary depending on various factors such as the area, whether inshore or deep-sea, season. If you are looking at renting for open waters around the coast of Florida then you’d also be looking at $650 for a single day.

So, all that’s required now is to book your yacht fishing trip this Easter and experience a fishing trip of a lifetime!

They vary in size from 24 meters in length to over 100 meters. This type of yacht will usually have lower, main and upper decks and often a sun deck too. They may include a VIP suite for special guests and all cabins will have en-suite bathrooms. Atop the main deck often you will find a saloon and dining rooms. Traditionally the cabin of the yacht owner will be on the main deck. Up one deck we have the upper deck which will host the outdoor dining area and bar area with its own bar staff, of course. Fairly often the gym will be located here too. And then there is the sun deck where, yes, you guessed it, the sunbathing takes place! Sometimes a jacuzzi will be installed on this deck too, just for that added touch of luxury. Super luxury yachts will be fitted out with flat screen televisions and satellite communication facilities.

The number of luxury yachts have increased dramatically in the past 20 years, to the point that really only the super luxury yacht stands out above the rest of the crowd. So can you answer the question “super luxury yachts – are they worth it?”? Considering the fact that one of these boats can cost as much as 10 million US dollars I could perhaps have a guess at your answer. However, if you just adore the thought of living in the ultimate of luxury and being supremely pampered, then my suggestion to you would be yes, they are truly worth it!

If you need some help picking yacht insurance, here are some yacht insurance tips you can use:

Will my guests be insured?
Yacht insurance should provide coverage for the guests, passengers and crew of the yacht. Different insurance companies provide different degree of coverage for these people so make sure that you know what type of coverage they provide. It is recommended to get the same coverage for all the people on your yacht.

Will my equipment be insured?
You should have an inventory of the equipments and other things in your boat. These should be covered by your yacht insurance too. You should have this type of policy, especially if you have a luxury yacht.

Will damages be covered by your insurance?
Your insurance policy should cover damages done by nature. These are natural disasters like tropical storms, tsunamis and hurricanes. Make sure that you read the policy and check what other types of yacht damages they will cover.

Yacht insurance and legal protection
It is recommended that you get a yacht insurance that offers policy holders legal protection. This would help you a lot in case you get into accidents or boat collisions. Such coverage can also be useful in case there are people who got injured during the accident.

Offers custom-made policy
Different people need different insurance policies. It is advisable to get an insurance provider that can offer you a custom made policy where you can choose the cover plans that you need and create a personalized insurance policy that meets your specific needs and requirements.

Third party liability
Just like car insurance, if you hit on other cars, your policy should cover the damages done to the other car. Your yacht insurance should also offer third party liability. In case your yacht will cause damage to other boats or watercrafts, they should be covered as well.

These are just a few yacht insurance tips that can come in handy when you shop for your insurance. Good luck!

Piracy has become worse as trade, commerce and transportation has improved through the years. Pirates usually attack ships that carried export/ import goods and oil. In one incident, pirates seized the Sirius Star, a ship that carries $100 million worth of crude oil. Such situation did not only make things worse for the company, but it also disrupted the supply of oil to consumers.

Piracy is a real thing so you should take steps on how you can protect your marine crew and your ship. This is why it is important that you get a marine insurance and ask about what its marine crew insurance covers. There are different coverage options that you can choose from. You just need to have an informed decision when you buy your insurance policy.

The usual ship or boat insurance would include a policy for the guests and the crew that are aboard the ship in case of any accidents. You should look into what type of coverage they offer because some providers will give a different coverage for the marine crew and a different coverage for its guest passengers. It will be recommended to get an insurance policy that offers the same coverage for all people aboard your ship. This way, you would not be thought of any biases or special treatment.

Your marine crew should have the proper insurance that they can avail of in case of they suffered from any ailment or injury aboard your boat. This is an important part of the marine crew insurance cover policy as there may be accidents that can happen in the seas.

You can shop for marine crew insurance online. You can compare prices and coverage so you can give the best policy for your marine crew.

You should have an eye in choosing the right luxury yacht insurance provider. Look for a stable company which is financially steadfast. You can do a little research yourself and check their submission for tax in the previous year. This would give you an idea if a company is stable or not. It is important to find out about the financial status of an insurance company because it would affect the cover policy that you would claim in the future.

The Internet is a good portal where you can find top marine insurers. You can check out these companies and look at their costumer base. Those that service a lot of clients are highly rated and are most probably the best companies that can pick from when choosing a luxury yacht insurance provider.

Customer service is another factor to look out for when choosing an insurance provider. This would serve as your contact point to the company when you get your claim. Customer service lines should always be open and there should be satellite offices or claim centers that you can personally go to. It is also a good thing if your insurance provider makes special arrangements with local service departments and emergency centers so you can get in touch with them in these facilities when you need to.

Your yacht insurance should also give you cover policies that you need. There is a custom made policy that you can avail of so you can have what you need and save some amount of money while discarding the policies that you do no need. Remember that the three important things that you should get insured are your luxury yacht, your equipments and the people aboard the ship.

Reputation is another important factor in choosing a luxury yacht insurance company. A good reputation will give you a feeling of confidence enough to entrust your priced yacht and investment in their hands.

Skippered Yacht Charter

With 2010 just around the corner, a skippered yacht charter could be just the ticket you need to enjoy a blissful and relaxing vacation. Perhaps on of the better holidays you could choose, a skippered yacht charter involves an on-board yacht crew. Basic services such as the skippering of the yacht and personal service from trained waitering staff should come as standard. However, beware of three hidden costs that could turn your special yachting holiday into a costly nightmare.

1. Ensure you ask for the on-deck food and drinks menu prior to signing any skipper yacht charter. Food and drink provided on-board can be extremely costly, especially if yachting in a sunny hotspot. Ask for any pre-arranged deals that can be thrown in, perhaps free water or bread rolls.

2. Watch out for extra costs aside from the designated journey plan. It’s not uncommon to spot something on the horizon and want to go check it out. So be sure to ask about the terms included in venturing off course, no matter how small.

3. Activities can appear as if they’re part of your skippered yacht charter trip, but often they come as ‘available’ extras. Prices are premium on these, so plan any diving, snorkelling or jet-skiing and pre-book if possible to avoid being stung by last minute charges.

Most of all, enjoy your yacht charter trip and let yourself relax. This really is one of the most invigorating vacations available and can often be found for really competitive prices!

Read through the yacht insurance policy thoroughly and compare at least three policies. Remember, you are the one paying the money so it pays to weight out the benefits and drawbacks to each of them. Beware of policies that seem to offer much more than the competition, but at a significantly lower price.

Lastly, request the accounts (annual report) of the companies competing for your yacht insurance signature. It’s essential that you know the company has sufficient solvency value to protect yourself.

• Captain/crew coverage
• Deductible waived for:
  • Collision caused by another vessel
  • Fire not originating from your yacht
  • Provable manufacturer’s defect
  • Loss resulting from assisting another vessel in imminent danger
• Automatic coverage for Marina (additional insurance)

It is important to be aware that luxury yacht insurance is very comprehensive and so it is strongly advised that the contracts are read through thoroughly by at least two parties. It would also be advised that a solicitor can help ensure your yacht is properly protected. Choosing the right coverage should be a well thought out decision and mutiple quotes should be acquired from different companies to weight up the luxury yacht insurance protection on offer.

If you are hiring a charter yacht for your vacation or corporate party, ensure that your yacht provider presents you with signed yacht insurance documents to protect you from any potential hazards that may occur. Luxury yachts can be the star of the most glamorous parties, the most relaxing vacations and will fill your life with unforgettable memories.

A U.S. worker (who spends over six-months at home) onboard a yacht who travels out of U.S. territory occasionally whilst on working duty.

The recommended protection in this case would be to consult a health insurance expert and discuss terms for a state-controlled insurance policy that covers the party whilst abroad. Careful planning for your yacht crew insurance, such as this, will ensure that you are not taking out the wrong policies and that inidividual needs of your crew are considered.

It is recommended that a health insurance expert who specializes in the insurance of yacht crew’s is consulted prior to entering agreement terms with your team. They can often extract the needs of each member and negotiate the correct policy. Such insurance will be essential in reducing the risk of lawful cases filed against you and/or your company should any unfortunate event occurs. Signed contracts overseen by a solicitor will help both parties feel secure in their negotiations. Typical coverage will cover anything from $50,000 to $1 million and are ideally suited for expatriates, missionaries, executives and marine crew who live abroad.